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Have you ever had any of your travel experiences, or photos, published in magazines or newspapers? (Not web-sites.) Happy travels, Gerry K

We spent an amazing holiday in Portugal in the summer of 1998, at a beautiful hotel on the shores of a lake in the Alentejo region. I was so taken with the holiday that I wrote down our experiences and sent it off to the newspaper that I usually read (the Independent, an up-market UK daily paper). This was in Jan 1999. No reply... oh well I thought, they probably get loads of unsolicited articles. Then in June 2000 ie nearly 2 years after our holiday, I was reading the Independent one Saturday, and there was my article! A few weeks later a medium-sized cheque arrived (still no actual letter of acknowledgement, but I'm not complaining!). I've not been on a holiday that lent itself to a trip report since then, but I would definitely try again if I did.

Ruth, I mainly work in the US, but I did do some work on copyright when living in the UK, and to me, this doesn't sound like the Independent treated you very well. Before we use ANY freelance articles in the publication I edit, we ensure that we have a signed contract in our hands. This includes assigned and unsolicited work. There's is no way I would EVER publish anything without a contract. This protects both us and the writer. Regardless, I know it was a thrill for you to get published, and congratulations.

Yes to both. My husband and I seek out places that are a bit off the beaten track, and have a lot of fun writing about them. We do write about standard favorites such as Paris quite often as well.

Gerry: Yes. It is tedious and the contract details take the fun and excitement out of it. You also have restrictions on what you can write and who you can write for AFTER your "done" with the experience. Go for the "op-ed" stuff in your Sunday paper so you don't feel so "used". You get a t-shirt, freedom and your dignity in exchange. My Best Happy Travels Oaktown

I sold quite a bit of editorial and photo work to various publications for several years. It was fun and there are attractive aspects to having a legitimate freelance business with this type of thing from an expense standpoint. Breaking into the market initially can be difficult and I found it easiest to start with smaller circulation publications and then "graduate" to bigger names as things progressed. After establishing relationships with a few editors, it becomes a lot easier to sell work. On the downside, there is quite a bit of discipline and work involved in preparing quality packages. Simply put, you can turn what should be a great, relaxing trip into just another job. Still, there is some satisfaction in the whole thing and I would encourage people who think they may have what it takes to give it a shot. Some money can come from it, but that alone is not a good enough reason to do it, IMHO.

Yes--The New York Times Travel Section, The Paris Herald Tribune and Euopean Travel & Life Magazine As some of the above mentioned I found out that writing about travel was getting in the way of my enjoyment of travel so I stopped about 10 years ago Now the only travel writing I do is on this site AH

No, never did any of that. But I always read the travel section of the Sunday paper and a couple of times I read wonderful articles (once about a really neat pub that had been family-owned for generations in Birmingham, England, and once about a B&B in Cirencester that had also been in a family for years and had once been a coaching inn) and I cut the articles out and mailed them to the pub and to the B&B. Both times, the recipients sent me something (a pen from one and some postcards from the other) along with a "thank you" and an invitation to be their guest (free) if I were ever in their area. Both of them said they framed the articles and hung them on the walls in the establishment. I wonder why someone goes to all the trouble of writing an article (complete with interviews) about someplace and then doesn't have the courtesy to send them a copy of their published article....

I have not been published.., but would love to start! I have some pictures that people tell me I could easily sell to a travel magazine, newspaper or stock photography house..., anyone ever do this? Any suggestions on how to start?

Fellow Fodorites, I originally posted this topic, not as an aspiring scribe looking for suggestions, but as a published writer interested in whether or not there were others among us. Although Jim Rosenberg's comments ring true and merit remembering, and Austin's suggestion, that writing can get in the way of enjoying your travels, has validity, the comments regarding contracts has me a bit puzzled. During my twenty-seven year magazine article writing career, I've written hundreds of articles for such publications as Field & Stream, Travel/Holiday, The Saturday Evening Post, etc., and the only publication that ever required a contract of me (to the best of my recollection) was Outdoor Life. And I have a stack of OL contracts to show for it. Also, since most publications purchase First North American Serial Rights, the author owns the property exclusively after it's been published. No editor can tell you what to do with it, or what not to do with it. It's yours. And, Dave, there are several annual publications, like the Travel Writer's Marketplace, which can help you get started. See your local librarian for directions. (I believe there are some monthlies, too.) As for pictures, keep in mind that magazines need slides, not photographs, for publication. (If you'd like further assistance, feel free to e-mail me, and I'll help as much as I can.) Cheers to all, Gerry K